Page 78 of Mastered By Love
Seth holds the coffee shop door open for me.“I was at the Youth Arts benefit last night.I saw you there.”
“Oh, I missed you somehow.”
The scent of coffee fills my nose.We step into a short line.A couple of teenage girls come in right after us.
“It’s okay.My date wanted to leave early.”Seth frowns at the counter.“I wish I knew what the fuck I was doing wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
He can’t answer, because it’s my turn to order.I list off what I want, then pay, then we’re waved to the side to wait for everything.
Now that we won’t be interrupted for a few minutes, I nudge Seth’s arm.“So, what do you mean?You think you’re doing something wrong?”
“I must be.Look, I can fuck around with whoever, any old day.The auctions are fine, but even just chilling at Low Vice, there’s usually someone who wants to play.It’s goingbeyondthat.I want what you have with your guys.Not with you—I won’t do that to you again, and I still feel bad.But…someone.For longer than an evening.You know?”
“It makes sense.You’re probably not doing anything wrong…maybe it’s how you’re picking dates, or maybe where you’re finding them?”
He gives me a sad smile.“Yeah, could be.”
The teenagers who came in behind us are staring.Seth is way,waytoo old for them—he looks closer to Gage’s age than mine, putting him in his thirties.
“Hey, isn’t that her?”one of the girls whispers.
They aren’t staring at Seth; they’re staring at me.
“Hey, you.”Her friend waves at me.“Are you Gage Hawthorne’s girlfriend?”
Seth turns around, looking as confused as I am.
“Uh.”Shit.I don’t want to get into this again.I just want coffee and scones for me and the guys.But denying it would probably be worse.“Yeah.That’s me.”
“Well, I guessshedidn’t run her over.”The first girl shrugs.
The other one says, “She could’ve driven up early this morning?—”
“Sorry.”I clear my throat.“But what the hell are you talking about?”
“She didn’t do it.”The first girl puts one hand on a slender hip and gestures toward me.“Look, she doesn’t even know.”
“Order for Leah!”A cheerful barista sets three cups on the counter in a little to-go tray, along with a bag full of pastries.
I gather the bag and coffees, my brain puzzling over the teenagers’ conversation.“Thanks.”
When I turn around to ask the teens again what they’re talking about, they’re no longer there.Seth nods toward the opposite side of the coffee shop.
They’re avoiding me.
I hurry back to him.“Do you know what’s going on?”
He grimaces.“I looked up your name, nothing came up.Then I looked up Gage’s.Shit.Leah, this is weird.You should head home.Like, right fucking now.I’ll walk you.”
“What?What happened?”Gage is fine, I was sleeping next to him half an hour ago.
“I’ll walk you back.”
“Tell me what the fuck is going on.”
He holds up his phone.I read a headline in bold letters above a picture of Nicola.Dread curdles in my stomach.
Another sad day for AoG fans.Nicola Johnson has been confirmed dead after a hit-and-run accident.
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